WELSH Lib Dem leader Lembit Opik was in London recording the latest edition of Have I Got News For You as his party debated a crucial deal to run the Welsh Assembly government.

The 42-year-old Montgomeryshire MP missed the make-or-break talks late on Thursday with Lib Dem AMs and the Welsh executive which decided to negotiate a Rainbow Coalition with Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives.

But Mr Opik, a regular feature in the tabloids with his girl friend Cheeky Girl pop star Gabriela Irimia, insisted 9.30am parliamentary business kept him away not the comedy TV quiz show.

The meeting was called at short notice in Llandrindod Wells, Powys - a nine-hour round trip for the MP to return to Westminster in time for the Freedom of Information Bill.

A Lib Dem spokesman said: “Lembit has played a full role in the party’s discussions.”